WASHINGTON –Today NATCA celebrates the 50th anniversary of a key achievement in the labor union movement. On January 17, 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed Executive Order 10988, granting federal workers collective bargaining rights.

By signing this Executive Order, President Kennedy recognized the importance of federal employees, such as air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals.

Said NATCA President Paul Rinaldi, “We join the AFL-CIO and the rest of our labor union family in marking the 50th year of this landmark Executive Order, which laid the groundwork for our ability to collaborate with the FAA and make the National Airspace System the safest and most efficient in the world.”

Executive Order 10988 not only permitted workers to join and engage in union activity, but also set the stage for expanding collective bargaining rights under future presidents.

From safety reporting to professional standards and more, the relationship between NATCA and the FAA continues to improve because of present day collective bargaining rights, put into motion by Executive Order 10988.

“NATCA’s tremendous progress on its initiatives through collaboration with President Obama's Administration, the FAA and the aviation community, would not have been possible without President Kennedy’s vision of a federal sector workforce with collective bargaining rights,” said NATCA Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert. “We are thrilled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this special Executive Order.”

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The National Air Traffic Controllers Association represents over 20,000 highly skilled controllers, engineers and other safety-related professionals.